Heading out without a baby

I’ve spent so long thinking about how to travel with a baby, and all the planning involved, that I’d almost forgotten that it’s possible to leave the house without her. In fact, I haven’t even attempted it for two months (11 if you count the nine I was toting her around beforehand).

But thanks to some strategic babysitting by my mum, who sat patiently while I explained once again exactly where to find everything she might conceivably need (and what to do just in case) while my husband towed me out of the door, I had five glorious hours of adult only time to enjoy a date.

Never has a meal and a film at the cinema seemed quite so fun – the fact it was on the South Bank, looking out to the Thames, and a Hitchcock retrospective at the BFI, was a bonus. I even managed several hours of sustained conversation on non-baby topics which feels something of an achievement after endless debates on feeding, sleeping, nappies (all very useful but nice to know I can still talk about other things).

And after feeling faintly like I’d been set free for a few hours, I couldn’t wait to get back to Minnie again (fortunately). If I start to miss her after five hours, it does make me wonder if I could leave her for days to go travelling without her…

Image: Patrick Q/Flickr